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The Blue Jays’ upcoming three-game home series, facing the first-place Red Sox on the weekend, is not yet do-or-die — but they can see it from here.

The Jays were in dire need of a day off Thursday, if only to re-group after:

Dropping six-of-nine games and ceding first place via a disappointing stroll through the parks of three other AL East opponents,

Scoring just 35 runs, with 21 of those in late innings when already trailing,

Failing to put up more than three runs against any of the nine opposition starters on the trip, a list that included non-all-stars Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Yovani Gallardo, Blake Snell, Luis Cessa and Bryan Mitchell.

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They got that day of rest. But now what?

The Jays had held first place, either alone or tied at the top for 25 straight days, since beating the Astros on Aug. 13, but that stretch as division leaders had masked some real concerns. The fact is the Jays, since Aug. 5, have posted a mediocre 14-15 record, with the rotation combining for a 7-7 record.

Coincidentally, that Aug. 5 date marked the Jays debut for Francisco Liriano after the Jays braintrust had changed its mind about moving Aaron Sanchez to the bullpen. Sanchez has continued to excel, but did that indecision have a team effect?

Make no mistake, the Jays control their own destiny. They have six games remaining against Boston, four vs. the Yankees and three with Baltimore. They have 13-of-23 at home, where they pack the Rogers Centre. There’s no sense of panic, but there must be a sense of concern, specifically in four areas.

1. Starting pitching: This is the asset that became the biggest surprise as the season unfolded and was the biggest factor in propelling the Jays to the top.

But on the nine games of the recent road trip, starters were 2-4, with a 4.59 ERA. The Jays rotation averaged just over 5 1/3 innings per start and were victimized by big innings, allowing 20-of-27 starter runs in just eight of the 49 innings.

Jays’ starters were clearly out-pitched on the 3-6 road trip. The Jays are set up with their three hottest pitchers facing Boston — Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ and Sanchez. However, for Boston, Rick Porcello is going for his 20th win, while Eduardo Rodriguez is coming off seven no-hit innings and Clay Buchholz has bounced back to be 2-0 in his last four starts — 11-3 lifetime at the Rogers Centre.

2. Defence: The Jays oft-spectacular defence, ever since the 2015 trade deadline, has been an accepted part of their winning mystique. But while Chase Headley was making great plays for the Yanks at third base and Brett Gardner saved a win with a game-ending catch against the left-field wall, Toronto infielders have prolonged innings with failed glove plays and Kevin Pillar has come up tantalizingly short of adding to his personal highlight reel.

3. Batting order: The Jays in 2015 experimented, then installed the speedy Ben Revere at leadoff for the final month-and-a-half and the club took off. This year, manager John Gibbons has stuck with Jose Bautista batting first when healthy.

Joey Bats at one worked well when the pitching was strong and the RBI guys were driving in runs. But now is the time to insert Devon Travis at the top for the remainder and move Bautista to a more traditional spot. Leave Donaldson at two and even after the Yankees shut them out, stay the course and wait until the slumping starts come out the other side. The Jays are 7-1 with Pillar ninth.

4. Incorporate a little small-ball: The Jays have become alarmingly predictable and other team’s advance scouts know it. When the Jays open an inning with runners on first and second, fear not the bunt. Double-play depth is the way to go and when the offence is in a funk, the inevitable failure to launch occurs.

The Rays in the same first-and-second situation, with Kevin Kiermaier at the plate, laid down a bunt that the Jays botched defensively and a game-changing inning followed. The Jays need to aggressively show other teams they are willing to manufacture runs, especially when they are not swinging well as a team. Then when they emerge from the offensive lull, teams will still be edgy on defence.

Every new series seems to become the Blue Jays biggest of the year and this weekend against John Farrell and his Red Sox is the latest.

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